A bill that could make New Jersey the third state to legalize recreational use of marijuana was introduced Monday, though Republican Gov. Chris Christie has signaled he doesn’t support greater access to the drug.

The bill would allow adults to purchase up to an ounce of pot from legal sellers and to grow six marijuana plants at home for personal use. The legislation would also permit the commercial growing and distribution of marijuana at licensed facilities overseen by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Marijuana sales would be taxed at 7%, with 70% of the revenue reserved for state transportation projects and the rest going to drug education and women’s health.

Details of how many licensees would be offered and the potential market are still being determined, but tax revenues could be upward of $100 million in New Jersey a year, said state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, a Democrat and the bill’s sponsor.

Driving under the influence of pot and smoking in public would be illegal, much like with alcoholic beverages, Mr. Scutari said.

“We are going to treat marijuana like alcohol,” said Mr. Scutari, a municipal prosecutor. “There is no evidence to indicate that marijuana is a gateway drug.”

New Jersey currently allows marijuana for medicinal purposes, but Democrats have argued that the program is restricted to too few aliments and it’s been hard for patients to access doctors who will provide prescriptions.

Sen. President Steve Sweeney praised Mr. Scutari for “opening a discussion” on the state’s marijuana laws, but wanted further information on how legalization efforts have gone in other states. Recreational marijuana sales are currently legal in Washington and Colorado.

“I’m open to Sen. Scutari’s idea, but we’ve got to look at what’s going on in other states,” Mr. Sweeney said.

At a town hall last week, Mr. Christie said he was against any attempt to legalize marijuana in New Jersey when asked about it by a resident.

“I will not legalize marijuana, because I think that is the wrong message to send to the children in this state and to young adults,” he said.

When asked about Mr. Christie’s stance, Mr. Scutari said: “He’s not going to be the governor forever.”